40 pages • 1 hour read
N. Scott MomadayThe Way to Rainy Mountain
Nonfiction | Anthology/Varied Collection | Adult | Published in 1969A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday is a creative nonfiction work recounting the history of the Kiowa nation through a blend of ancestral stories, historiography, and personal memoir. Structured in 24 two-page stories split into three sections—“The Setting Out,” “The Going On,” and “The Closing In”—the book tracks the Kiowas' journey from their origin in the Rocky Mountains to their 1875 surrender at Fort Sill and subsequent reservation life.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
N. Scott Momaday's The Way to Rainy Mountain intricately weaves Kiowa folklore, personal history, and poetry, evoking a rich sense of cultural heritage. Praised for its lyrical prose and vivid storytelling, some critics feel its structure can be disjointed. Overall, it’s a poignant homage to Native American tradition and identity, though it may challenge linear narrative preferences.
Who Should Read The Way to Rainy Mountain?
A reader who enjoys The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday likely appreciates lyrical prose, Native American heritage, and reflective storytelling. Fans of Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine will find similar thematic richness and cultural depth.
RecommendedReading Age
14+yearsLexile Level
890LBook Details
Fairy Tale / Folklore
Narrative / Epic Poem
American Literature
History: U.S.
Education
Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Identity: Indigenous
Identity: Language